A HEXCRAWL MAP OF AERETH

See below a simplified and condensed map of Aereth.

Aereth

GENERAL HEX CRAWL EXPLORATION RULES

• Hexes are 24 miles. PCs can move 1 hex per day in regular terrain, 1 hex per 2 days in difficult terrain (mountains, swamps, thick forests). With horses, then can move 2 hexes per 1 day on a hex with a road.

• PC can decide to move to an adjacent hex or explore a current hex. Each takes 1 day.

• Whenever the PCs move into a hex or explore a hex, roll for an encounter, using the Gongfarmer’s rules (see above). Roll dX based on terrain type, encounter on a 1 or 2:

  Terrain	Encounter	Encounter Type
  Barren	d6	1d100
  Hills	d6	1d100
  Mountains	d4	1d100
  Plains	d10	1d100
  Swamp	d4	1d100
  Woods	d6	1d100
  Water	d6	1d100

• On tens and doubles →

  • Anywhere: Man on the Road Encounter (1D20 Action Dice, Divine Intervention to put to Rest or they need to figure out the ritual: make unconscious, pierce with the seven knifes of the Abbey from the Abbot in the Woods—he is the old priest—and a lawful Cleric has to pass a DC 20 spellcasting check. ).

  • Anywhere: Elephant encounter. Describe elephant in a away that makes them sound scary (Tentancle in the face, leathery skin, massive legs, tusks, trumpet sound), then have them realize it’s an elephant, when in fact this elephant is a terrible predator with razorsharp teeth and the ability to shoot acid out of its trunk. Will attack and kill! HD: 5D10+5 35, Attack: acid (ranged) +7 2d6, destroys armor, tusks +7 1d8+5, AC 10, special: trample charge–everyeone in the movement path Reflex save DC 14 4d6+4 damage.

  • East of the Mountains: Blight Orc raiding party (1d6)

• All Blight Orcs have embedded, green crystals that strengthen them in various ways. Upon death, 51-100 chance the crystal explodes in an alchemical conflagration. 2d6 damage, Stamina save DC 12 for half. Warriors can try to hit the crystal directly with a successful deed. If damage >10 the crystal shatters and the Orc dies but the crystal explodes for 4d6 damage, Stamina DC 12 save for half.

• Blight Orc: as Orc but HD 2d8+1, AC 16 (chainmail) Attack: +3 1d10+1 (Axe) or Longbow 1d6+1.

• Blight Orc Berserker, AC 14, 1d3 deed die, Attack +4, 1d10+2 (axe), HD 3d8+3

• Blight Orc Captain, 2D20 action dice 1d4 deed die, Attack +5 1d10 damage +3 (axe), HD 5d8+4, AC 18

• Blight Orc Shaman: 2D20 action dice, Spellcasting 1d20+4, access to Lay on Hands, Turn Unholy, Paralysis, Word of Command, Darkness, Curse, Binding, Other spells, can shoot a green lightning bolt with the crystal, +5 1d6+1 damage. HD 2d8+4

• Some hexes have obvious adventuring sites / adventures (see below).

• For Empty Hexes, when PCs search, roll a d12 +1d100:

Random Locations/Events 1D100

METAPLOT

• PCs can explore wherever they want and pursue their own goals. Many modules can be spun into their own campaign-length adventures.

• There is one over-arching “plot” threat unfolding as the PCs are adventuring.

• The forces of Chaos are rising. Ages ago, Chaos Lord Cadixtat’s body was torn in nine pieces, each hidden on the world Aereth. The nine pieces are the heart, lungs, left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg, torso, head, and eyes. Each piece is hidden away in a different location and appears as a black, oily sludge.

• Now, agents of Chaos are attempting to resurrect Cadixtat. The Ur-Lireans (see Colossus Arise!), an ancient lawful people, are convinced the absence of Cadixtat has unbalanced the cosmos. They are secretely working to resurrect Cadixtat. To that end, they made an alliance with Tarkhan Kurzog, a powerful Ogre mage and acolyte of Cadixtat. With the help of the Ur-Lireans, Tarkhan has sent agents to recover the essences of Cadixtat from across Aereth (e.g., from locations in Sailors in a Starless See or Doom of Savage Kings). He is also amassing an army of Orcs, Ogres, and Goblins East of the Mountains.

• Hide 7 other pieces of Cadixtat in different hexes across the map.

• Tarkhan rules from Azmog-Azmennum in HEX 1803.

• Tarkhan has amassed an army of orcs, goblins, bugbears, ogres, and giants. 5 generals have regional command: 2 orcs, 1 goblin, 1 giant, 1 human. They can be encountered on the Eastern side of the mountains (details below).

• Broad timing: Within 1 year, Tarkhan will have found all 9 parts of Cadixtat and brought them to Azmog-Azmennum. Then, Tarkhan will travel (3 weeks) to HEX 2303 to meet with the Ur-Lireans and resurrect Cadixtat.

• PC may interfere with this plan at any time. Maybe they find some pieces of Cadixtat before Tarkhan does, maybe they raise an army and confront Tarkhan or his generals on the field of battle. Maybe they find the Rod of Rulership, etc. Make it your own thing depending on how the PCs in your campaign want to operate.

• Factions that work against Cadixtat: Kruul the Planar Conqueror, the Church of Klazath, various mortal kingdoms.

The Beginning:

• The PCS are from a remote village called Road’s End in HEX 1204.

• The Portal is in HEX 1203.

• It is part of the Northwestern, rural province of the small Kingdom of Luithea, ruled by “The White Drake of the North, His Royal Majesty King Beldor”.

• The kingdom is part of the Large Empire of Crieste.

• Road’s End hasn’t seen a tax collector or judge in decades.

• The capital is Kassantia, Eisenhold is the next largest town with a large keep, ruled by Prince Seremac

• PCs start with the module Portal Under the Stars. The plot hook about the Rod of Rulership can lead the PCS eventually to HEX 2121, where they can find the second half of the Rod of Rulership. The Rod replaces the The Rod of Cadixtat in the module Colossues Arise! and can be used to slay the Chaos god. The entity that appears to the PCs is Kruul the Eternal Conqueror, another champion of Chaos, working against the resurrection of Cadixtat.

• To find the Rood of Rulership, the PCs need to burn the wood of a dryad in a living flame, using the brazier they found.

  • For a living flame, they need to capture the essence of a powerful fire elemental. Instructions on how to make a living flame and the necessary ritual can be found in Frozen in Time, The One Who Watches From Below, The Emerald Enchanter, or the Stygian Library. Maybe add other ingredients that are necessary or let the PCs come up with a creative solution.

  • A dryad can be found on the island of Noes Caen HEX 0511 (or pick another location).

• A wizard character gets to use the demon horn. Randomize the patron:

Sailors on a Starless Sea

• Adventure location is in HEX 0501.

• For Level 1, PCs travel to Eisenhold (HEX 0707) to train for their classes.

• They also get to carouse for XP and spending some of their wealth, even if they don’t have enough gold.

• The ruler of Eisenhold, Prince Seremac, has appointed a new Magistrate: Jasper Osgood.

• Jasper has been tasked with improving governance (tax collection, law enforcement, solving problems) in the region.

• He asks the PCs to investigate an old, abandoned keep, near the town of Welwyn. They can keep any treasure they find, if there is a danger, remove it. Reward: 150GP per player and some information about the location of a dryad.

• PCs can hire hirelings in Eisenhold:

• Wilhelm: has two daggers, a thin moustache, thin dude in his 40s, thinning hair. Food+lodging+1 sp per day.

• Obra–female trapper with a shortbow. Same rate.

• Yuri—16-year old boy, Has a club. 2cp per week +lodging and food.

• Lodging costs: simple place in common room (bed+food) 1sp, private room (3sp)

• Wellwyn: pop, 921, A wilderness town standing in the shadow of the Cairnswild forest

• Wellwyn is home to trappers and huntsmen who earn a dangerous living hunting the dangerous dire boars that rut in the forest glades. The town is ruled by the young and charismatic Lady Arabella, daughter to the late mayor. Arabella shares the duties of her post with the town’s magistrate, a grim man known as Malchor.

• The problem: Several animals have died of disease over the last few months. Villagers have started to disappear. At first, we thought people just left for better fortunes, but now we think that someone or something is taking them. A peasant family of 6, 3 woodsmen, 4 sheepherders, a couple of townsfolk have gone missing. Most recently, the sons of the village smith, Keary and Alban, have vanished 11 days ago. We think it has something to do with that dreaded keep. A banner has been seen flowing on top if the tower.

• Roll for rumors from the adventure when they get to the village.

• Plot hooks to add:

• The vault also contains a large, opened black chest, made from an unknown metal. It is empty. The inside is coated in some oily, black/reddish liquid. This liquid is one of the Essences of Cadixtat–the heart.

• Drop in correspondence from Tarkhan Kurzog, thanking him for retrieving the heart, instructing him to raise the Chaos Lords and join him in Azmog-Azmennum. Letter is written on halfling skin, carried by the cult leader. Letter is written in Chaotic language. PCs may know that Ogres love Halflings for the taste of their flesh.

• PCs can find a ring belonging to the wizard Sezrakan, maybe this can be a tie in.

• Treasure map → leads to another module (Frozen in Time).

Doom of Savage Kings

• HEX 1513: Eastern side of the mountains, northern continent, next to the swamps, foot of the mountains.

• PCs go to Hirot to attend to the Shrine of Klazath, a place of healing for wounded soldiers.

• Hirot is a remote village at the feet of the Trolltooth Mountains, in the Western Part of the Free Province of Thire.

• Flophouse with the Rogues: they will try to steal some of the PCs magic items.

• The Lair of the Hound contains a black metal chest, full of black slime, like in Sailors. A party of rogues stole the Left Leg of Cadixtat, this released the Hound.

People of the Pit

• HEX 1309: North of Hirot in the mountains, the town is called Cragwatch

• Church of Klazath contacts them about a problem: a renegade warrior priest vanished and now the tentactle monster of the People of the Pit had returned. People of the Pit.

• PCs have earned a reputation for dealing with beasts, citizens of a small town (Cragwatch) ask them to help, 500 GP each

• High priest’s chest contains some valuable information: They were a heretic priest of Klazath. They allied with Tarkhan Kurzog to raise Cadixtat as a formidable foe for Klazath. Tarkhan told them to go to Cragwatch and release the corrupted earth elemental that dwelled there. The priest went there and started the Cult of the People of the Pit.

• The chest also contains a bag of ancient, blackened silver coins (module Imperishable Sorceress). They show a beautiful woman vaguely repellent and resembles one of the characters (determine randomly), reverse side reads in archaic script “Beauty Devours”. Adventure is triggered when PCs walk through any door.

• Locals tell them about a nearby Wizard’s tower (Emerald Enchanter).

The Emerald Enchanter

• Tower hex north of Cragwatch HEX 1207

• The Emerald Enchanter traded Stryggal Threestake the secret of the green Orc crystals. PC encounters Blight orc Raiding party in a steading on the way to the Tower (have captured 15 villagers). Stryggal has been supplying the Emerald Enchanter with test subjects in exchange for crystals and the teleportation mirror. Village by the Tower is eerily empty (inspired by Trilemma Adventures.)

• Hexes around the tower have been subject to Orc raids. PCs can find evidence of this and encounter Orcs.

• In the Tower, PCs can find notes on the deal: Emerald Enchanter supplies crystals and the mirror in exchange for people. Shipping notes specify the location of Stryggal’s Forward Base in HEX 1506 and mention of the main camp not too far away (HEX 1706). Forward Base is inside the mountain with access to the underground river.

• Wandering Monsters inside the Emerald Enchanter’s Tower: Roll 1D6 every 3 turns. On a 5 an omen, on a 6 an encounter: